Parsons School of Design and LG AI Research Present Exhibit that Highlights Art, Design, and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence has long been a popular idea in science fiction, but increasingly, it is making its way into the real world, and has seen explosive growth throughout the past few years.
Creative industries are grappling with a myriad of ways the new technology can be harnessed and leveraged to advance design, which now includes an exhibit at the Arnold and Sheila Aronson Galleries presented by Parsons School of Design and LG AI Research. The exhibit is part of the university’s partnership with LG, which also includes research projects and collaborative courses meant to develop new designs.
“Many exhibitions show off the new capabilities of artificial intelligence, where they have the machine and model that generates the visuals and sounds that were once thought only humans could make,” explains Jeongki Lim, Assistant Professor of Strategic Design and Management and co-curator of the exhibit. “Some shows and artworks critically examine the negative consequences of the reckless adoption of AI in society. We, the organizing team, noticed that the novelty of generative AI has already worn off among the creative communities. At the same time, adopting AI – whether autofocus on the camera or ideating concepts with ChatGPT – is already widespread among the emerging creatives in The New School community. So, in the exhibition, we were interested in how emerging creative professionals use AI as their artistic and design medium to execute their vision.”
The exhibit includes work by students from throughout Parsons, as well as independent designers and artists who create art at the intersection of design and technology. A variety of themes are explored in the show, including identity and representation, which are examined in both personal and interpersonal settings.
“The exhibition features all kinds of different types of artwork,” says Lim. “It may feel as if none of the exhibition is about AI. Instead, the exhibition captures the ideas that emerging creatives are wrestling with at the moment, and AI serves only as a medium.”
Indeed, the exhibit makes clear that AI can be embedded in any aspect of the artistic and design process, and that the final design doesn’t have to be about AI.
“We hope the works can inspire you to examine AI critically and make your creative visions come true,” shares Lim. “We hope this can be a catalyst for amplifying the voices and works of The New School community.”
